Abstract:

The relationship between perceptual impairment and independence in basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) was investigated in a sample of older adults living in an institution or in the community. Perceptual status was measured using the OSOT Perceptual Battery. The Physical Self-Maintenance Scale and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale were used to measure ADL. Participants with higher degrees of perceptual impairment were shown to be less independent in both basic and instrumental ADL. In addition, participants with upper extremity, mobility, and central nervous system (CNS) deficits were shown to be most dependent in basic ADL. These findings support the position that perceptual impairment is an important factor in the pertormance of ADL and suggest that further investigation into increasing the independence of older adults with such deficits is warranted.